Million dollar man

Academic’s big grant will improve your health in hospital

A nursing academic has returned to Avondale with a prestigious $1.5 million grant to fund research into the prevention of healthcare acquired infections.

Professor Brett Mitchell is also a recipient of the 2021 Peter Doherty Investigator Grant Award for Emerging Leadership. It recognises him as the top-ranked researcher following a peer review of applications for the National Health and Medical Research Council’s competitive grant schemes. “I was surprised to get the grant let alone the award,” says Brett. “When the email came, I thought, Someone’s having me on.” The money will fund Brett’s salary and research for five years.

It is a good investment as research into the prevention and control of infections not only saves money, but also lives. With one in 10 patients—or 165,000 people a year—acquiring an infection in an Australian hospital, the burden is significant. Despite the associated increase in morbidity, mortality and antimicrobial resistance—not to mention length of stay—strategies to prevent healthcare acquired infection are informed by low-quality evidence. So, Brett’s focus has been on increasing patient safety by finding better ways to reduce common infections in healthcare. “Making life a little bit better is not only good for the patient but also for the community because we can increase hospital capacity, freeing up beds for elective surgery.” COVID changed things, though.

As Executive Director, Infection Prevention and Control, for COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria, Brett co-led the state’s COVID-19 accommodation program. The role, created as a response to the hotel quarantine inquiry, introduced Brett to a new sector and to new people—such as those in correctional services and in logistics and operations. Despite the risk to reputation, “we prevented transmission of COVID-19 from those in our care and helped design a purpose-built quarantine hub.”

We are now much more aware about how infections are transmitted and what we can do to reduce the risk of getting infected, says Brett. He notes the appointment of infection control leads in every aged care facility across Australia—“massive reform”—and uses the hybrid model as an example of change in the workplace. “Our response to COVID reduced the amount of face-to-face contact, which lowered risk of infection from respiratory viruses.” As we return to work, our response to COVID has also “improved hygiene facilities and ventilation, which provides a safer environment, but we still have a long way to go.”

The pandemic took a personal toll, altering Brett’s work–life balance. “It seemed like I was working day and night, so it’s good to now take a step back. COVID reminded me of what’s really important: family [a wife and two children], friends and taking some time for yourself.”

Brett’s new role at Avondale, as professor of health services research and nursing, is a good fit for two reasons. One, he likes the agility and the collaborative opportunities that come with working in a smaller university. And two, “from my experience, not many organisations live up to their ethos. Avondale is different. It’s true to its word.”